Complement

XXXII – Breathing & Everything
(Part B)

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Buffy lay with her head in Faith's lap, purring as Faith idly played with her hair. They were both just relaxing staring at the Christmas Tree, everyone else had long since gone up to bed. The tree was beautiful, huge, but beautiful. They had spent the whole day, three weeks ago decorating it with the gazillion trimmings, ornaments and lights that Faith had bought the same day she had bought the tree. It was Faith's first Christmas Tree and her first real Christmas. Buffy had spent that day watching Faith run around excited a goofy grin permanently plastered on her face. Watching Faith that day as the joy just seemed to radiate off her had alleviated some of the sadness that not only Buffy was feeling but Dawn was as well that their Mom would not be there to share this Christmas with them.

Faith hadn't stopped at decorating just the tree though. The whole Mansion, inside and out was decorated with strings of pine, lights and tinsel. There were wreathes on all the doors, including the outside gates, there were cheerful bells and goofy Santa Claus statues, all the reindeers and a sled. And of course Faith's favorite, mistletoe. It was hung over almost every square inch of the Mansion including their bedroom. As if, Faith needed an excuse to kiss her. It was, if nothing else, interesting because Faith made everyone kiss that passed under the mistletoe, regardless of age or sex. Buffy had dearly wished she had a camera the day Xander had to kiss Gary. Xander's face had been priceless. And the downright wicked, evil smile Anya had gotten when she told Xander that the chaste kiss he had given Gary on the cheek just wasn't going to cut it, made them all burst into laughter. Then they had burst into laughter again as both Xander and Gary had backed away from each other shaking their heads no so fast and furiously that everyone was afraid they would give themselves whiplash!

They had set a spending limit on themselves - which Buffy had no intention of following - and on their extended family. When asked what she wanted for Christmas, Faith had surprised each and every one of them with her answer. She had asked them to spend, if not all, then at least half of what they were going to spend on her on gifts for the kids down at the Sunnydale Center for Underprivileged Children, the SCUC, instead of on her. And she wanted them all, Immortals and mortals alike, to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day together here at the Mansion. That was all she wanted, because as far as she was concerned, she already had everything she could ever need, she had them. Then Faith had turned the brightest shade of red Buffy had ever seen.

It was Spike who ended up surprising them the most though when he had shown up tonight for Christmas Eve dinner with a wagon full of brightly wrapped gifts for the kids at the Center. Spike blew off their surprised comments and thanks in his trademark off-handed way. And if vampires could blush he would have when Faith had rained kisses all over his cheeks in thanks for his thoughtfulness. But Spike wasn't the only one who had brought a truckload of gifts for the Center kids, they all had, even the Immortals. By the time, everyone had shown up the pile under the tree for the kids at the Center was twice as large if not more then the rest of all the other gifts put together.

Faith in her own way had reminded them what Christmas was all about. It was about giving, not receiving, it was about family and spending time with those you love.

Today, Christmas Eve, was only the second time since their return that they had spent a whole day together. Buffy missed spending all of her time with Faith like they had during their stay at the Immortals' domain and she knew that Faith felt the same way. She supposed that they, that things, would settle down again sooner or later, it just seemed like there were fifty million things they had to do since they had gotten back.

First and foremost had been finding jobs, they both had far too many bills that were overdue and had been waiting on their return. Buffy had gotten a job the second day of their return waiting tables at the local diner thanks to her previous waitress experience in LA. She had been picking up as many shifts as possible. Silently thanking whomever for Slayer energy or she would have never been able to continue the hours she had, was still working. But she knew no matter how much she worked she wasn't going to be able to pay her bills and go back to school at the same time, at least not this year.

One of the first things she had done was to sell her Mom's car, she couldn't afford the payments and she really didn't need a car. It had helped but it still wasn't enough. Finally after long sleepless nights, she had come to the conclusion that she needed to do something with the house as well, especially since they had decided that the best place for them to all live together and keep social services happy would be at the Mansion. She had sat down with Dawn and they had discussed all the alternatives, one of which had been renting the house out. But they had both decided that considering the amount of work the house needed and the type of people that had a tendency to migrate to SunnyD renting out the house wasn't a good solution to the mortgage payment problem. Not to mention, it would have still cost money to maintain the house even if they did rent it out. So, two weeks after her return home, Buffy, with Dawn's consent had put their house, their Mom's house up for sale.

Faith on the other hand, hadn't had such an easy time finding a job as Buffy had. Even the local MickeyD's wouldn't hire her because of her lack of a high school diploma, though privately Faith believed it had more to do with her whole bad girl persona, then lack of a diploma. She had become increasingly frustrated as one after another place either turned her down or outright refused even to talk to her. Finally, two long weeks after their return home, she had been walking dejectedly in the warehouse district and had seen a help wanted sign at one of the loading docks. She had politely asked to speak with the manager who was doing the hiring. When he came out she had told him she wanted to apply for the job loading and unloading the trucks. She had also told him outright that she didn't have a HS diploma, he had told her in return that didn't matter to him, what mattered to him was what kind of worker she was but... He had tried in an awkward way to tell her that she wasn't quite what they were looking for physically, the work was backbreaking and required a great deal of strength and stamina. She had quickly seen that he was sincere, so instead of arguing with him she simply walked over to one of the trucks and started unloading it. Lifting boxes and crates out of it that had required two large men to unload. After ten minutes of not even breaking into a sweat, the manager, Ron, had hired her.

Like Buffy she took every available shift she could get her hands on and unbeknown to Buffy she had taken a second job at one of the sister companies down at the docks doing the same thing seven days a week from three in the morning til eight in the morning. She had a goal and to achieve that goal she needed to make as much money as possible in as short a time as possible. Buffy thought, because it was what Faith had told her, that she was actually working two part time jobs, one in the warehouse district, the other at the Pier and the rest of the time she was absent from the Mansion she was taking a class down at the local adult center to get her GED. She was, in truth, studying for her GED, but with Willow and Tara, whenever she had free time, but she had sworn Willow and Tara to secrecy about the tutoring and the second job. She had taken the test for her GED three weeks ago and had hoped to have the results back before Christmas, but it hadn't happened, she was disappointed, she wanted to surprise Buffy, 'cause she knew she had passed. It was all right though, because what she had really wanted to come in the mail had arrived just last week and that was what was really important to her.

Between all the hours working, Slaying and taking care of the house and Dawn. Running around like chickens without heads to make sure the Mansion looked nice and normal for when Social Services did one of their surprise visits they had spent relatively little time with each other. Most nights they Slayed in shifts with one of the Scoobs, but seldom did they go out Slaying together. So for the most part the only time they spent together was the brief hour between Faith getting home from her job and Buffy heading off for hers and the few hours after Slaying they managed to sleep together. Even their lovemaking had suffered; on a good day, if they were lucky, it was a quickie in the morning or in the shower between jobs and they both were feeling a little unsatisfied and a little bit lonely. But more than anything else they missed sleeping in each other's arms and waking with the other. They missed their morning kisses and spending time in that in-between place in the mornings when they were neither awake nor asleep and the rest of the world ceased to exist.

It wasn't easy, but it was life and a real life. They were together and closer in some ways then they had been before. They were both working towards making a better life, for not only each other, but Dawn as well. They had each other, Dawn, the Scoobs, Angel and crew, the Immortals and together they would all get through the hard times. For once in their lives, both Slayers saw the light at the end of the tunnel and they knew sooner or later all of them would be standing in that light.

Faith smiled down softly at Buffy, it was all going to change after tomorrow. She had quit her second job, she didn't need it anymore. She pulled her thoughts away from that; she didn't want to spoil her surprise for Buffy by letting anything seep into their bond.

Buffy smiled back up at Faith, she raised handhand and gently stroked along the side of her neck. Faith had made tonight, this Christmas sn son so special, so all new once again for Buffy. She had been dreading the coming holiday since it would be the first without her Mom, but somehow Faith had made her feel like her Mom was here with them. It had even been Buffy, who at Faith's gentle urging, that had hung up her Mom's stocking after she had found it in the box with hers and Dawn's. And so Joyce's stocking hung on the mantle with all the stockings that Buffy had made to surprise Faith for their entire extended family.

As much as she loved spending this relaxing time alone on the couch with Faith, Buffy had to get her upstairs and to sleep soon. The others, though they had gone to bed, were waiting for them to go up and Buffy's signal. They had all decided covertly to make this a very special first Christmas for Faith indeed. From Lilith making all of Faith's favorite foods and sweets to Buffy finally breaking down and getting something for Faith that she had mentioned she always wanted years ago, despite the context Buffy had been told it in or any misgivings she might have about this particular gift.

"I can't believe that you actually put out chocolate-chip cookies and milk on the mantle."

"Whatda ya think Santa doesn't get hungry delivering all those gifts?" Faith asked Buffy and Buffy's breath caught at the childlike innocent look that Faith was giving her.

"You don't really believe there's a Santa Claus do you h?"h?" Buffy smiled again because she had a sneaky suspicion she knew what Faith's answer was going to be.

"Why not B? We spent the last four months in another dimension with Immortals that were up until then only myths. We're friends with the Prince of Darkness. Our family consists of two vampires with souls, an ex-vengeance demon, a sister who was, is a mystical key, need I go on? Not to mention, we're Slayers, we fight vampires and all sorts of demons every night. So why can't there be a Santa Claus too? Why can't there be some mythical being that's a good guy that's real too? Would be nice for a change that one of the good ones is real instead of just the evil ones, don't ya think so B?"

"Yeah Fai, it would be nice..." Buffy spoke softly, almost wistfully, remembering when she had believed in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy. When the world had been so much simpler before she knew that the boogieman that she had thought lived under her bed, was in fact, really real. Even though she wished things could be that simple again, she wouldn't trade anything for that time again, if it meant that Faith couldn't be with her.

Buffy sat up and climbed onto Faith's lap straddling her legs. She leaned in and gave her a soft, sweet kiss. It was a simple, chaste kiss, a kiss that spoke of long-ago, childlike innocence and simpler times. It spoke too, of youthfulness, naiveté, and the innocence that Faith had helped her rediscover in the world.

"But you know baby..." Buffy started as she tucked a few strands of hair behind Faith's ear, "...we need to go to bed, 'cause Santa won't come until we're asleep. It's an unwritten rule you know. So let's go to bed. 'K?"

Faith pouted, if given the choice she would just stay up all night. She was full of energy and excited about her first Christmas with her family. Her family, it sounded so good, she could say it over and over again forever. She had a family, she had a woman that loved her and that she loved in return with her whole being and she had a life. A real, bona fide, actual life!

"But it's still early and it's so cozy down here with the lights and the fire and everything... And being all alone with only you..."

Faith sounded like a five-year-old begging their Mom to stay up just five more minutes and Buffy was unable to resist her, she was so damn cute. She leaned in once again and gave her a light as air morning kiss, not caring that it was eleven o'clock at night. Who said they could only share those kisses in the morning anyway?

"Mmmmm... That was nice. More than nice. I miss this B."

"I miss this too. And I miss holding you in my arms every night and waking with you in the morning. Just miss you Fai..."

"Miss you too B..." Faith mumbled before capturing Buffy's lips with her own for a kiss filled with love, longing and pent-up passion. It was slow and sensual, as their mouths and tongues performed an elegant ballet of love and desire with each other.

Buffy leaned back, knowing that Faith would keep her from falling. She began to play with the hair that rested softly against Faith's chest. "That was even nicer. Down right delicious in fact. Just like you. You know Fai..."

"Yeah B."

"If we go upstairs to bed now... Well, there would be plenty of time before we needed to go to sleep in time for Santa to come for me to show you..."

"Show me what B?" Her voice came out low, raspy and husky. She smiled languidly when she saw the goose-bumps appear on Buffy's skin just like they always did when her voice was like this. It made her do the happy dance inside that her voice still had that kind of effect on Buffy.

She watched as Buffy's mouth turned up into a downright wicked, evil smile and that was all the answer Faith needed. She swooped down and captured Buffy's mouth in a ravenous kiss as she stood up from the couch. Her whole body shuddered as she felt Buffy tighten her arms around her neck and her legs around her waist. She stumbled her way over to the stairs, already sweating and trembling with anticipation and felt Buffy trembling against her as well. She took the stairs two at time, never breaking their kiss, and ran down the hallway towards their bedroom with Buffy still wrapped tightly around her.
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"B... OhgodB... You feel so good... right ah... ohgod..." the low, moaned-out words floated softly to them through their open bedroom window on the evening breeze. Without thinking, she waved her hand and caste a soundproof spell around the Slayers' bedroom. She smiled when she heard Willow stifle a giggle into her pillow.

"Quick thinking sweetie!" Willow mumbled against the pillow then giggled again.

"I guess you could say that's our signal that the coast is clear..." Tara started giggling herself.

"Oh that was a signal okay, though I don't think it was meant for us..." Willow started giggling even harder, she took one look at Tara and they both fell into each other's arms in a fit of laughter.

They finally got over their laughing fit and got out of bed. They slipped on their shoes, having changed into sweats and t-shirts earlier and had just been lounging around waiting for Buffy to come get them. They quietly made their way through the Mansion gathering the rest of the 'troops.'

They all spent the next four hours gathering all the hidden gifts, redecorating, stuffing the stockings and enjoying each other's company. Angel and Spike actually went up on the roof and set up a spell the Wicca's had put together for them that would later that day make sled trails and hoof marks. While Wesley, Gunn, Fred and Cordy finished polishing the gift the LA crew and the Scoobs had gotten for Faith together. Lily finished the last of her chanting for one of her gifts that would start the minute Faith began making her way down the stairs in the morning. Mars, Lilith, Zane and Clotho were down in the basement, busy at work setting up their combined presents for both Slayers. While the rest of the Immortals, finished up with theirs. They did this not just for Faith, but Buffy and Dawn too; they wanted this Christmas to be special for all three of them. Those three had a long hard year and all of them wanted to make this a happy, joyful day for the Slayers' and their sister. And they were all glad, though not surprised at the method that Buffy had chosen to ensure that Faith wouldn't wander downstairs, because it ensured that Buffy wouldn't either. As for Dawn, they just neglected to wake her at all.

So, for four hours on Christmas Eve night, Immortals, mortals and vampires alike ran around with large goofy grins on their faces. Humming Christmas Carols under their breaths, happy that they were able to each do their part and make this a special Christmas for all of them.

And of course Buffy did her part, instinctively knowing that the rest of her family was busy downstairs, so she made sure to keep Faith busy and occupied well into the night. A part she didn't mind playing at all in their little surprise which she thought was only for Faith.
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The bed was bouncing and her shoulders were being shaken. She burrowed further under the covers and the pillow over her head. But the bed was still shaking and now there was an insistent finger poking her shoulder. She pretended not to hear her mate telling her to, "Rise and shine sleepyhead." So what had happened to that lovely morning ritual of slowly waking and bringing each other to that in-between place with soft kisses and gentle touches? She moaned, grumbled a loud protest into the mattress. Then started to giggle when she heard Faith ask her in an almost childlike voice, "Don't you want to see what Santa brought you Giz?"

She squirmed around until she was on her back, Faith still sitting on top of her straddling her waist. no sno sooner pulled the pillow off her face and Faith was showering her with happy, wet, sloppy kisses all over her face. There was only one thing Buffy could do... Flip Faith over onto her back and return all those beautiful, joyful kisses.

Her half-open sleepy eyes grew wide when she caught sight of the clock. "Faith! It's only six in the morning! It's way too early to be up!"

"No it's not! Come on Giz, it's Christmas!" Faith pouted and gave Buffy puppy dog eyes, but she couldn't hold the pout for too long, the same goofy grin she had the day she brought home the tree broke across her face.

She didn't wait for Buffy to answer her, she jumped off the bed, reached down, picked Buffy up and tossed her over her shoulder.

"Hey! Put me down!" Buffy yelled and lightly smacked Faith on the ass.

She ignored Buffy, started towards the door and then thought better of it for two reasons. One, they were both naked and two, they both reeked of sex. She diverted to the bathroom and set Buffy down next to the tub. She reached out and grabbed Buffy around the waist when she tried to get past her.

"Can't we sleep another hour. Please baby... You wore me out last night I'm tired..."Buffy pouted and fluttered her eyelashes at Faith.

Faith just chuckled under her breath, thinking to herself, the presents could wait another hour until after they showered. "No... But I'll wash your back if you'll wash mine..."

The husky tone of Faith's voice let Buffy know that getting her back washed was the last thing on Faith's mind.
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The shower, or rather the activities in the shower had definitely woken Buffy up. They finished their shower and Faith once again became that over eager five-year-old who wanted to see what Santa had left for them all under the tree. She dragged Buffy out of the bathroom and dug out comfortable clothes for both of them, practically throwing Buffy's at her. She was dressed at the speed of light. She rocked from foot to foot impatiently as she waited for Buffy to finish getting dressed. The second Buffy was done she grabbed Buffy by the hand, literally pulled her out of their bedroom and started dragging her down the hall.

Faith's first stos ats at Willow and Tara's temporary bedroom. She knocked twice loudly and shouted a warning before she opened the door. She let go of Buffy's hand, sprinted across the room, and dove on top of the witches, shouting at them it was time to get up. The witches glared at Buffy who just shrugged her shoulders at them, then they glared at Faith who was still sitting on top of them.

"I'm Jewish, we don't celebrate Christmas remember...?" Willow grumbled out in feigned anger at Faith.

"Well today you do! And happy belated Hanukah Red!" Faith said in a voice that was way too chipper for seven in the morning even if it was Christmas. Then she just gave both Wicca's' her best silly-ass grin and they couldn't help but smile back. Faith's enthusiasm was, if nothing else, contagious.

"You guys have ten minutes to get ready while I wake up everyone else. Meet me and B at the top of the stairs when you're ready." Faith told them as she climbed off them and the bed, made her way back over to Buffy by the door, and grabbed her hand again. "And don't make me come back to get you..." Faith threatened with a very un-Dark-Slayer-like giggle over her shoulder as she pulled Buffy out the door after her.

Tara and Willow jumped out of the bed quickly; they wanted to be ready as fast as possible and waiting for the Sla bef before they got back. They called out softly to Clotho and Lilith knowing that they would hear them and warned them that Faith was wide-awake and on her way.

Faith dragged Buffy from room to room, repeating the process of banging on the door, shouting a warning, bursting through the door, then jumping on the occupants of each room, giving them the exact same instructions and threat, then was off again like a little kid on a sugar rush to the next bedroom. Including Gary and James who, at Faith's insistence, had spent the night, even though they lived right next door.

"I swear I'm taking all sugar out of your diet Faith!"

"It's not the sugar B... I'm just happy is all..." Faith turned around, softly kissed Buffy, smiled and then started dragging her down the hall again towards the stairs where she had told everyone to meet them.

Tara and Willow were already there waiting for them. They all stood around waiting for the rest of their extended family to join them. Faith leaned against the wall, tapping hoot oot impatiently, the same large goofy, silly-ass grin on her face. Her eyes twinkled with delight and joy, she was as excited as a kid let loose in a toy store and she didn't give a shit who knew it or how much damage it did to her bad girl rep.

Lilith and Clotho came rushing around the corner and were greeted by a huffed out, "Took ya long enough..." from Faith. They both just kissed the Dark Slayer on the forehead and laughed.

"Faith baby would you go get me a sweater while we're waiting for everyone I'm kinda chilly. Please baby."

"Sure B."

Five pairs of eyes watched Faith walk down the hall then into the Slayers' bedroom.

"Now?" The two Immortals and Wiccas' asked at the same time.

"Now!" Buffy told them with a nod and a shit-eating grin.

With a wave of her hand Clotho faded everyone in the Mansion except for Buffy and Faith downstairs to the living room.

"HEY! Where is everyone? Don't even tell me they went back to bed..." Faith started rambling the second she came out of their bedroom and saw only Buffy standing in the hallway.

"I told them to go downstairs rather than wait for us..." Buffy told her softly between clenched teeth so that she could keep biting the inside of her cheek to stop the shit-eating grin from spreading back across her face.

"Damn B. I wanted all of us to go downstairs together. Is everyone down there?"

"Yep."

"Even Angel, 'cause he sure was cranky and he's a worse morning person then even you."

"Look who's talking, Miss-I-don't-wanna-get-up-B-please-just-five-more-minutes-B-I'll-do-anything-anything-you-want-I-swear!"

"So... just think about all those, anything's, I did for you when you let me have those extra five minutes..." Faith wiggled her eyebrows at Buffy, leaned down, and gave her a hot, wet kiss just in case she missed her meaning.

"You keep kissing me like that S.O. and we won't be going downstairs until tomorrow or maybe not even until after New Years Eve..."

Faith leaned in close to Buffy; she gently nipped her earlobe and whispered to her, "Mmmmm sounds good to me..." then nipped her earlobe again and ran her tongue along it to soothe the bite. She picked Buffy up and whispered, "Tell me that again later and I'll take you up on that offer..."

She started to head down the stairs quickly, the silly, goofy-ass grin on her face again. Buffy snuggled against Faith tightly, her arms around her neck with the same silly, goofy-ass grin on her face too. Faith rounded the corner and almost tripped on the last two stairs and drop Buffy at the same time as the living room came into sight.

The twenty-five pairs of eyes that belonged to her family stared up at her and Buffy and each pair of eyes had a matching silly, goofy, shit-eating grin on their face. It was a sight and a feeling that Faith would remember 'til the day that she passed from this life into the next.

"Merry Christmas baby," Buffy whispered to her softly, gently detangling herself from Faith and standing next to her. She reached out and grabbed Faith's seeking hand with her own. She squeezed it gently when she felt Faith's hand tremble.

If Faith didn't know better as she took those last two steps and walked into the living room to a chorus of Merry Christmas' she would have sworn she was walking into Santa's Wonderland Village. She was waiting for a few of Mars' dwarf warriors to walk out of the kitchen dressed as elves. Something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye and she spun to the side and stared openmouthed out the wide double glass doors that led to the garden.

"GIZ!!! Gamin!!! LOOK!!!"

"What Faith..." Buffy laughed already knowing what Faith was seeing.

"It's friggin snowin'! Hell it's a damn blizzard outside, well in our garden anyways!" Faith spun around and looked at Buffy and Dawn with wide pleading eyes, "Can we go out an make snow angels?!!!!!? Please... Pretty please with sugar on top!!!!" She grabbed one of Buffy's hands and one of Dawn's, deciding not to wait for an answer, mumbling under her breath how much she loved the snow as she dragged them towards the garden doors. How the snow had always made everything look better, newer, cleaner, special, how she missed it since she had come to the West Coast.

"Faith stop..." Buffy tried to no avail, Faith just kept muttering under her breath and dragging her and Dawn across the room. "Faith! STOP!" She tried again and ran around in front of Faith, putting her hand on her chest and actually physically stopping her with a little help from Dawn. "First, we don't have on coats and second, we have our family here, who all got up nice and early 'cause of you. So let open some presents and have breakfast, trust me the snow isn't going to disappear.... Right Lily?"

"Right Gizi...mbuuu-ffy!" Lily yelled back from across the room.

"Okay. Sorry Giz..." Faith gave Buffy a sheepish look. "I just got all excited. I love the snow. Promise we can go outside later and play in it.... Maybe have a snowball fight or something. It's silly I know but..."

Buffy watched over Faith's shoulder as Tara and Willow quietly started to chant as they held hands. She began to babble at Faith to cover up the witches chanting, "It's not silly baby... It's actually cute, yesiree-bob. Cute like really, really cute. Then again, you're cute so it's cute in a cutesy kind of cute way. And we can have a snowball fight or make snow men and women or an igloo 'cause that would be cute too, ya know."

She saw the witches finish chanting at the same time Faith placed her fingers gently against her mouth to stop her inane babble on the attributes of cuteness. She tried to keep her eyes from growing wide as she saw all the gifts appear that Tara and Willow had placed invisibility spells on just in case either Slayer or Dawn had ventured downstairs during the night. Dawn pulled her bottom lip into her mouth to contain her gasp of surprise when everything magically appeared.

Faith smiled at Buffy and kissed the tip of her nose, thig hog how cute Buffy was when she babbled and scrunched her face up when she kissed her nose.

"How about we discuss the cuteness of all of this later and open some presents?" Dawn asked both Slayers with a smirk.

"All-righty!" Faith smiled at both of the Summers' sisters. She spun around and once again reached out and grabbed a hand of each of the two people that meant the most to her in the world. The young woman who had been the only light in her otherwise dark life for so long and the other, who had, with the help of her younger sister and the rest of their extended family, had taught her, helped her and now walked side by side with her in the light.

Faith had managed to take only a half step before she almost tripped again when her mind actually registered what she was seeing. "HOLY SHIT! FUCK ME NO WAY!!!"

"Faith!!!!" Both Buffy and Dawn yelled at her.

"WHAT?"

"CURSING!!!" They said together again.

In what seemed to be the theme for the day, Faith channeled Willow and started babbling, "But do you see that? That can't be for... No way... That's gotta be for someone else and hey it wasn't there before, how did it get there? I must be seeing things... That can't be for..."

"I'm afraid so Faith. It is for you. Or rather it is yours." Wesley told her with a smile that lit up his whole face. "It's from all of us in LA, all the people here in Sunnydale and Giles of course. You might say it's from the Earth Collective!"

Faith looked at them one by one with a stunned expression on her face, blinking back the tears that were threatening to spill. She looked at Buffy dazed and whispered to her in awe, "B, they got me a Harley. That is a Harley, isn't it B?"

"Yes baby it is... You like?"

"I... I..." Faith started and stopped as she turned back to all their smiling faces. "I don't know what to say... I love it... but it's too expensive... I can't... expensive... I..."

"Actually it wasn't expensive Faith..." Gunn started his own smile threatening to split his face in half.

Fred cut off Gunn, as she rushed out, "It was cheap, real cheap actually, because Wesley he found this beaten, run-down, rusted bike, with dents, no gas tank, flat tires and other broken bike things. And we all wanted to kill him at first but he assured us he could fix it up. We didn't really believe him until he pointed out that he had fixed his own bike up after you had totaled it, and, well, as you can see, he wasn't lying. We even have pictures to show you what it looked like before. And a few of Gunn's friends helped us to get all the parts, tires, and one of them even painted it for really cheap. They said something a par parts fallin' off the back of a truck. They did the same thing for... um... for um... nothing else, that's it, you know me I just kind of keep talking until...." Fred finished and everyone looked at her with a little bit of awe, wondering how she had managed to get that all out in one breath. They also wondered if Willow had been giving her babbling lessons.

"You did all that for me Wesley?" Faith asked him, still wondering how this man had ever been able to forgive her. And thanking silently every deity she could name that he had. "Thank you..."

"You're very welcome Faith... After all, it's not like you live at the hotel with us anymore and can just hop on mine. And I couldn't have you coming to LA on the bus just to borrow my bike to just turn around and drive it all the way back here." He smiled again and Faith swore she saw an evil glint come into his eyes behind his wire-rimmed glasses. "Especially not the way you drive," he smirked at her.

"Hey I drive good!" She told him huffily, "Wasn't my fault there was oil on the road... I can't believe you guys got me a Harley. A fucking Harley..." She ended in a thunderstruck, hushed voice.

"FAITH!!!!" Both Buffy and Dawn shouted at her again.

"WHAT?!!?" She shouted back knowing damn well what.

"CURSING!" They shouted right back.

"CHILDREN ENOUGH!" Giles shouted over them and everyone started laughing.
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They tossed the keys to Buffy with a chipper Merry Christmas and an Early Happy Birthday from the Earth Collective!

"What are these for?"

"Go look out the window."

Buffy flew rather than walked over to the window, "HOLY SHIT!" She had barely finished cursing before Faith and Dawn were besides her peeking out the window over her shoulder. "Don't tell me you fixed this up too Wesley."

"Let me guess... Gunn's friends found some more parts that fell off the back of a truck for this too, right?" Faith asked unable to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

"Yes well... Actually, I didn't do the fixing up this time. It was Gunn and Cordelia that did the fixin' up." Wesley completely ignored Faith's question, he would clear that misconception up later. With the exception of one or two parts for both of the Slayers' gifts, all of the necessary parts were found in LA's numerous junk yards.

"No way. Not Cordy!" Buffy, Faith and Dawn all spun around in disbelief and shouting at the same time. They're kidding right, Cordy?"

Cordelia shrugged her shoulders. "Who me??? Me, the fashion queen of LA and Sunnydale, who knows all the latest do's and don't for clothes, shoes, hair and nails. Me, who has never committed a fashion faux pas' in her entire life. Me, who never has a hair out of place and wouldn't be caught dead in last months, let alone last years styles. Me, who would never think to get grease under my perfectly French manicured nails. What would I know about a Sixty-five, Black on Black, Mustang convertible? With a two-seventy-one hp High Performance two-hundred-eighty-nine CID V-8 special Shelby engine with a three-hundred-six horsepower at six-thousand rpms, that can be converted to be a street legal R-Model Shelby. A four on the floor Hurst, with a heavy-duty suspension that has a twenty-two to one overall stee rat ratio, Limited-Slip Differential, Power Brakes, Steering and Top? Me, nah I wouldn't know anything about stuff like that....... Now...would I?"

"Wow Queen C... I'm impressed." Faith told Cordelia then mocked bowed to her.

"What can I say Grasshopper. I have many skills." Cordy shot back giving Faith one of her best Queen C ss.
s.

"I KNEW IT! I so knew you were lying. I knew you were watching Xena on the sly!!!!!" Faith shouted at her and Cordy just shrugged her shoulders daintily, refusing to take the bait and tossed a second set of keys at Dawn.

"And this Little Bit is for you from all our two crews, the Watcher and the Slayers' who thought they were chipping in for something else of course..." Spike spoke to Dawn as he wheeled a new Honda Elite SR Scooter, black of course, out of the kitchen for her.

Both Slayers looked at the Scooter, threw murderous looks at everyone, then looked at Dawn and the keys in her hand. They lunged for the keys, a look of terror on both their faces. Dawn was quicker than both Slayers, she had anticipated them going for the keys. She was hiding behind Angel, Mars, Zane, Luc and Atropos before either Slayer had even come close to her.

"Guess all that training paid off, eh Little One?" Luc chuckled.

Angel saw that both Slayers' were about to start arguing with them over the Scooter and their little deception to get them to chip in, so he cut them off. "I have one more gift that is for the two of you. Well, actually for the three of you that is just from me." He moved over next to the Slayers', produced a large envelope seemingly from out of nowhere and handed it to them.

"You open it B." Faith beckoned Dawn to join them; she gave her a soft smile to let her know that they, she and Buffy would drop the subject of the Scooter for the day.

Buffy eagerly tore open the envelope and then Dawn and the Slayers' mouths dropped open. Angel had given them the deed and title to the Mansion. Dawn's third of the Mansion would be held in trust for her until her twenty-first birthday; he had also paid the taxes on the Mansion for this year and the next.

"Angel... I.." Buffy tried but she was in shock, her mind blank.

"Sou... Angel... Hell I don't know what to say either." Faith's was drawing a blank as well.

"I'd settle for a thank you and hugs from the three of you." Before he knew it, the Slayers and the Key were hugging him faster than he could blink. "I never wanted to worry about any of you not having a home again. And as corny as it sounds I wanted to be the first to give you a place you could call your own -- for you to call home, Faith."

"You already did that Soul-boy when you brought me to yours after I got released from jail." Faith whispered it so softly that only the four of them heard what she said and this time she didn't try to stop her tears from falling.
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Everyone remained quiet for a few minutes letting the Chosen Two, Dawn and Angel compose themselves.

"Okay you three ready for the rest of your gifts from us mere Immortals?" Mars bellowed out.

Dawn, Buffy and Faith received their own riding saddles, riding boots, chaps and cowboy hats, which all three of them knew they would never wear. They also received a years worth of riding lesson down at the local stables where it seemed both Obsidian and his now very pregnant mate, Sol were stabled for the time being. They would return to the Immortals domain when it was time for Sol to give birth or when the Slayers visited. Dawn was overjoyed when they told her that while there was a mare at the stables for her to ride, the colt that Sol was going to have would belong to her, just like she would belong to him.

The Slayers' and Dawn also received gear for the Sportster and the Scooter and gas cards from the Immortals. Everything once again all black. Dawn also received some kick-ass leather pants and leather jacket in black, which both Slayers knew Lilith had picked out and that made Faith envious, along with a ton of other clothes. Crow presented Dawn with a sterling silver Egyptian Ankh on a delicate silver chain and a card that she refused to let anyone read.

The Slayers were then led by hand downstairs to the basement, since Mars insisted that they close their eyes. When they reached the bottom step, they opened their eyes and once again, their mouths fell open. The basement was now a mini-version of the training room at Mars' facility. There were weapons of every type, weight lifting equipment and an odd sign, that looked more like it belonged over the doorway to a shop rather then on the wall in their training room. Both Slayers walked over curious to see what it said, Buffy read it aloud.

"Tan T'iens Dojo & Gym, 8 Main Street, SunnyDale?" She looked at Faith, who gave her a puzzled look she never heard of it either. "There's no Dojo on Main Street. Where did you get this sign?"

"Had it made..." Luc answered cryptically.

"Why????" Faith asked him.

"Cause everyplace needs a sign don't you think?" Zane, the Incarnate of Death answered.

"So... that’s the name for here? But the address is wrong..." Buffy was confused and by the look on Faith's face, she wasn't the only one.

"No and the address isn't wrong, it's right." Lachesis told them with an arched eyebrow.

"But... it's not..." Buffy insisted.

"It's a good thing you two are Slayers 'cause you guys are so dense sometimes... I can't believe you two are going to raise me..." Dawn gave a dramatic sigh and rolled her eyes at the Slayers.

"Please Dawnie, enlighten us..." Buffy told her little sister sarcastically and Faith arched an eyebrow and nodded in agreement with Buffy.

"Thinkin that there's a place now with that name in downtown Sunnydale. And maybe the Immortals had something to do with it and you guys are gonna I don't know work there or run it or something like that..." Dawn told her sister and Faith just arcaarcastically.

Both Slayers just gave Dawn an evil glare.

"Actually Little One, you're almost right. They're not just going to work there or run it, well actually they are, but they're also going to own it." Lilith told all of them in her own sarcastic husk and then chuckled as both Slayers' mouths dropped open once again. She idly wondered if she should ask them if they wanted bibs just incase they actually started to drool. She thought better of it, forced down her wicked nature and continued. "More over the Dojo is actually owned by Grasshopper, Gizmo and..."

"Hey that's the warehouse that my crew just started renovating! Why didn't you tell me it was for Buffy and Faith?" Xander asked excitedly cutting off Lilith, when the address sunk in.

"As I was saying..." Lilith began again, ignoring Xander's question, "The Dojo is actually owned by Grasshopper, Gizmo, X-Man, Red, hell by all of you here in Sunnydale or the Scoobs as you prefer to be called. And your share Little One will be held in trust until you're twenty-one. We figured you all might as well make a living teaching others what you do best. Maybe help the people that live here on the Hellmouth to survive, live longer, by teaching them how to defend themselves. Who better than two Slayers, four witches, a souled-vampire, an ex-demon, a mystical Key and you of course Xander. A mere mortal man who has on more than one occasion proven that you don't have to be a Slayer, a witch, a key or a vampire to survive against the evil that dwells here in this town. And anyway we needed a bigger space in order to train you all..."

"Now all the renovations are going to take another six months or so. But we've paid the rent on the building, with the option to buy for the first year. The equipment will have the same deal as the building once the renovations are completed. You wouldn't believe how cheap the rent is here in Sunnydale. Can't imagine why. Anyway, besides that, it's up to you all to make the business work and thrive. There won't be any outside influence or help from us, you will fail or succeed all on your own." Clotho finished for Lilith.

"I... shit, I don't know what to say other than thank you..." Buffy squeezed Faith's hand tightly.

"Wow... Oh wow... Wow..." Xander managed, while Anya was already forming a marketing strategy and counting the dollars in her head.

Xander's sentiments were chorused by the rest of the Scoobs.

"Ditto what Xand, the Scoobs and B said..." Faith mumbled out. She had officially hit overload and knew she was going to make a fool out of herself and start crying any second now. She was saved by Mars' stomach growling so loudly; it put both of the Slayers best stomach growls together, to shame.

"Well I don't know about the rest of you but I'm hungry. What say you we eat first and save the rest of the gifts for later? All in favor say aye."

A very loud enthusiastic chorus of, "Aye's," agreed to Mars' suggestion.
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"What?..." Faith asked through a mouthful of food when she felt almost everyone at the table staring at her.

For the most part everyone had finished eating over fifteen minutes ago. Faith was on her sixth helping and showed no signs of slowing down, she had out eaten even Mars' who had an appetite like a bear.

"What?????" She asked again, when no one answered her. "Do I have food on my face or something?" She turned towards Buffy who just shook her head no. She didn't have a clue why everyone was staring at Faith either.

Faith looked around the table and saw the smirks that Dawn, Lilith, Clotho, Gary, James, Spike, Willow and Tara were giving her. But it was the knowing look that Anya was giving her that gave away what everyone was thinking. She felt the blush start somewhere around her toes.

"Thank the goddess for soundproof spells." Tara said quietly a wicked glint in her eyes as she looked from one Slayer to the other.

Every pair of eyes turned to look at the blonde Wicca including Willow. Faith's mouth dropped right open; Tara was the last person she would have expected to make an off-color remark or tease them about something like that. Buffy gently closed Faith's mouth for her, then snapped her own shut. This time it was Buffy who felt the blush start somewhere around her toes.

"What?" Tara asked them innocently and shrugged her shoulders.

Anya who was not known for her tact and had an evil streak when it came to teasing the Slayers, especially Faith, decided to play dumb and answer Tara's question. "You see Tara, the only time Faith eats this much is after two things, a good night of Slaying and since we all know that she didn't go out Slaying last night that must mean that she had a good night of laaa....mhprf..."

Anya never got the chance to finish, Xander's hand over her mouth saw to that. He mumbled a silent prayer that his coffee had finally kicked in and woke him up in enough time to realize exactly what Anya was up to.

"You know Tara you need to teach me that spell 'cause I gotta tell ya living next door to the Energ..." Gary started, sometimes he had even less tact than Anya and he too, loved to tease the Slayers. Only instead of getting his mouth covered, his mate just cut him off.

"Why Tan T'iens for the name of the Dojo?" James' asked the Immortals and smirked at Gary's moan of frustration.

"I know why!" Faith had to stop herself from raising her hand and waving it around wildly as if she were in school and trying to get the teacher to pick her to answer the question. She hastily swallowed her last bite of kick-ass banana pancakes Lilith had made before she continued.

"Since T'ien is plural it is referring to what is known as the Three Treasures in Tai Chi. The Chinese names for the Three Treasures are Shen, Chi, and Ching. They're representative of one's true nature in respect to different aspects of our multi-sided being. The Shen, is located in the Upper Tan T'ien or head and means spirit, it symbolizes the higher faculties of the mind, both intellectual and intuitive. The Chi, or breath, is located in the Middle Tan T'ien or heart center and stands for one's connection with worldly activities, like communication and relationships. The Ching, or essence, is located in the Lower Tan T'ien or pelvic center and represents one's basic body center and energy foundation. It is usually with the Ching that one starts to learn Tai Chi and it usually takes years to master." She paused for a second, in her enthusiasm she forgot about being shy or putting on her bad girl mask and attitude.

It was a self-protection thing, the bad girl mask and attitude, she knew. It was nevertheless something she had not been able to stop doing, even around her family, but it had started to lose its firm grip on her psyche the second she had walked into the living room this morning.

"In Chinese culture the definition of the superior person is a person in which all Three Treasures, or Tan T'iens, are healthy, strong and in good relationship with each other. In a very real sense, it describes a person who is strong and healthy in body, emotions, and mind, all of which contribute to a strength of spirit. One definition of a master in Tai Chi is, the person who thinks, feels, and does the same thing... Faith trailed off suddenly embarrassed for absolutely no reason. She saw Angel smiling at her with pride and felt the blush grow hot on her cheeks.

"Very good Grasshopper. I am duly impressed. Seems as though the Fates have aptly nicknamed you." Mars stood and then bowed low to Faith, a twinkle in his eyes, he was teasing her, but he was also truly proud of and impressed with her.

It was official now; she was blushing so hard she was sure her hair was going to catch on fire.

"I'm impressed too baby," Buffy murmured low under her breath for Faith's Slayer hearing only, not wanting to embarrass her any further. She lightly stroked Faith's thigh and gave her a soft smile. And damn if Faith didn't find a new sense of pride in herself and get that warm fuzzy feeling from Buffy.
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Continued in Chapter XXXII – Breathing & Everything (Part C)